March 2010
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February 2010
Surprise! City balances budget!
In an election year, should we be surprised that the city has announced $821 million in savings and a balanced budget? Why couldn't the city find those and other savings a few years ago instead of imposing new taxes? And despite the announcement, why must property taxes increase by 4% again, and why must there be fee increases in other areas. Come to think of it, why must there be service cuts in libraries, when the operating budget is increasing from $8.9 billion to $9.2 billion? We should not hail this budget. Rather we should continue to ask tough questions and set a new course for our city - a course that returns it to a concentration on the delivery of core services.
Transit War
With TTC Chair Adam Giambrone under his own microscope of public scrutiny, TTC union boss Bob Kinnear has further fanned the flames of public anger with his harsh statements aimed at TTC riders. The battle that now rages between TTC workers and its customers must end immediately if we are to salvage our public transit system. Councillor Giambrone should immediately resign from his post, just as we called for last week, and the TTC workers should serious reflect on the harsh words of their union boss. A frequent criticism of many businesses is lack of customer service. When customers complain, they are often not listened to despite the legitimacy of their complaints. We all want our public transit system to work well. However when politicians make poor decisions that spark public outcry and union leaders then angrily attack the public for protesting and fighting back by snapping pictures of sleeping workers or taking a video of a driver on an apparent extended break, a disservice is being done to a necessary system that is funded by taxpayer money. Cooler heads should prevail. The culture and attitude of government and the public service union must change. We must all start working together to build public transit as a better way.
Uncollected Money
A recent report from the city's auditor shows that Toronto allows in excess of $100 million to slip away in potential ticket fines. While Mayor Miller points the finger of blame elsewhere, it is difficult to believe that the issues raised in the auditor's report highlight something completely new. When we compare the new taxes that hit car drivers with the unclaimed revenue, it is staggering that our politicians continue to cry poor and that more taxes are necessary. We question whether the auditor's report only touches the tip of the iceberg. How much goes uncollected in property taxes every year? How much other potential revenue is lost over time?
Asset Give-Aways
We believe that the city's assets are underutilized that too often the city enters agreements which basically gives them away. An example, is the recent decision to turn over commercial space in Councillor Adam Vaughan's Ward to the Toronto Arts Council for rent at $1 a year! The city was owed $300,000 by a land developer, but councillors are willing to accept commercial units in exchange for the debt, which will in turn be turned over to the Arts Council. Why should the Toronto Arts Council get the use of these properties? Why is market rent not being charged? Why did the city not hold fast and ask for the $300,000 which could have been used for the greater benefit of more city programs? The city government needs to prioritize - not continually cave in to the demands of special interest groups.
Are you tired of career politicians?
Are you tired of them wasting your money?
We are and we need your help to crack some eggs.
